The New Zealand young writers in the Press Service International (PSI) young writer program with Christian Today in 2016 will be allocated one full week out of the 5 week cyclical schedule of past years.
The PSI young writer program runs an annual cyclical schedule of 10 Cycles of 5 weeks each. There is a daily publishing option in Christian Today of 5 articles, meaning up to 25 young writer articles may be published each week.
This has suited PSI with the International young writers as they have had around 16-18 columnists for some years now, so they all are published in the first week of each Cycle. This is known in the PSI system as Week 1.
This was particularly important for the five International panellists for the annual Basil Sellers Awards as they sought a lesser pressure and hence placing all the internationals into Week 1. This ensured they were only marking one week in five.
2016 at this stage has 16 New Zealand based young writers.
It was put to the New Zealand panellists whether they too might prefer this option – marking one week in five rather than marking articles over the entire Week 2-5 schedule. Not one of the New Zealand Panellists saw an advantage in being tied up over such a period whereby they could mark them all in a one week time slot.
2016 New Zealand Panellists
Rt Rev Brian Carrell
Liz Hay
Tash McGill
Peter Rope
Dr Deidre Tronson
Brent Costley
There are three new New Zealand Panellists. Brent Costley is from North Palmerston, while former young writers Tash McGill and Peter Rope make up the six in total. Both Tash and Peter are 2012 foundation New Zealand young writers.
These are the unsung heroes of the PSI young writer ministry as it is they who provide the marking points for the annual NZ Basil Sellers Award.
2016 New Zealand Young Writers
Christchurch
Irenie How
Matthew Joils
Tim Newman
Jardine Meyer
Grace Davison
Wellington
Harriet Knox
Scarlett Jones
Claire Debrois
Esther Koh
Cambridge
Jeremy Suisted
Taranaki
Kara Greening
Rotorua
Matt Browning
Auckland
Brad Mills
Jared Diprose
Tim Shallard
Amos Sale
Michele Ong
A number of Kiwis from this year are not listed above: Sophia Sinclair is now in Sydney and as the PSI editor is not listed (in an Australian week), Tash McGill has become a NZ Panellist and listed in an Australian week, Amanda Robinson has returned home to England after 6 years in New Zealand and transferred to the International week as has Andrew Sinclair from Christchurch living in Sydney.
The New Zealand week will be the fourth week of the five week schedule with New Zealand co-ordinator Irenie How from Christchurch.
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He mentors young writers and has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html
